Fifth-wheel



(No Model.) I

' F. A. TAYLOR.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 551,914. Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

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' contact with the ball-track or balls, obviating and I do declare the following to be a full,

UNITED STATES PATENT 'GEEICE.

FRANCIS A. TAYLOR, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,914, dated December 24, 1895.

1 Application filed May 9, 1895. Serial No. 548,649- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Bearin g Fifth-VVheels;

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ball-bearin g fifth-wheels for vehicles, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a ball-bearing fifth-wheel of simple construction, efficient, artistic, and durable; second, to so construct and arrange the several partsthat it will be impossible for water to come in all danger of rusting the balls; third, to so construct the ball-track so as to make it im possible for the balls to fall from the track should the fifth-wheel be taken apart.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved fifth-wheel, showing axle broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of same, taken in line x 00, Fig. 1, showing all the parts constituting myimproved fifth-wheel. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of upper track-plate. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of same, showing its construction. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of steel trackplate, showing the position of the balls. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of same, showing the general construction. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the center portion of the axle, showing the fifth-wheel plate forming part of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, A indicates the front axle of a vehicle; B, a round flat plate forming the lower half or foundation for the fifth-wheel. The said plate is welded upon the center of the axle and forms part of the same. The center of the said plate is provided with the upwardly-projecting sleeve or hub O and pin D.

E indicates the steel track-plate. This plate is provided with thegroove F to receive the balls G. The said groove is rounded in the bottom and is about two-thirds the depth of the diameter of the balls and curved upon the 5 5 side walls, making the opening smaller than, the diameter of the balls. A small portion H is cut away to admit the balls into the groove. When the balls are placed in the position shown, the plate can be turned upside down without disarranging the balls. The trackplate is placed over the sleeve C and rests upon the foundation-plate B and held in position by the pin D passing into a hole to correspond in the lower face of thetrack-plate.

1 indicates the upper track-ring, which is of tempered steel. The said ring is beveled inward and at such an angle that when placed upon the balls and weight is placed upon the same the balls bear against the inner wall of the ball-trackG,formin g an easy reciprocating motion to the axle.

J indicates the upper half of the fifth-wheel, which is composed of a hollow case, having outwardly-projecting arms K, and are for the 7 5 purpose of attaching the upper half of the fifth-wheel to the reach, and in which is secured the track-ring I, and is held from turning by the lock-pin S. The said case is provided upon its upper face with the springbearing L. The said bearing is hollow upon the under side to receive the heads of the springbolts. The center of the case J is provided with the downwardly-projecting sleeve M, which passes over the sleeve 0, formed upon the center of the foundation-plate B, and upon the inside of the center opening in the trackplate E. This prevents all loose motion to the upper and lower half of the fifth-wheel, and also to take all strain from the center bolt N. The case J is also provided in its center with an upwardly-projecting sleeve 0. The said sleeve is for the purpose of preventing water from passing through the center opening into the center of the fifth-wheel. The 5 head of the bolt N is grooved and slides over the sleeve 0, making a perfect water-tight joint.

P indicates a brace having a threaded center Q and V-shaped arms. It is secured to oo the under side of the fifth-wheel by the bolt N passing through the same and held by a nut T. The arms of the brace are secured to the brace-arms K by the bolts R.

The description given is fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 3, 5, and 7 show the several parts detached, showing more fully the shape or form of the same.

It will be readily seen by those skilled in the art that when all the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2 that a free and easy movement is conveyed to the front axle.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A ball-bearing fifth-wheel composed of an upper and lower half, the lower half forming part of the axle, the upper half formed into a hollow cap, and provided with a tempered steel ring to form the upper track for the balls, the lower half provided with a fiat tempered steel plate, having a ball track formed within the face of the same, and provided with suitable balls, sleeves formed upon the upper side of the lower half, and upon the under side of the upper half, the said sleeves to fit one within the other and held together by a center bolt substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS A. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

JOHN M. BELL, LEWIS MOORAY. 

